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Which Wildflowers Can't I Grow From Seed?

A woodland walk can trigger so many emotions: serenity, freedom, happiness! Most of us think about the graceful trees interplaying with streams of clear sunlight which shoots through the canopy to give a natural mosaic of light and shade. But nothing transforms your walk into a joy-filled stroll quite like a carpet of wildflowers! We have all become far more interested in wildflowers because of their bee-friendly credentials, but how can you best grow wildflowers in your own space?

Some wildflowers can be easily grown by throwing cheap wildflower seed onto the ground and letting nature do the rest over a period of years. But the most interesting wildflowers which are most beneficial to bees will not grow this way and your promise of a lovely wildflower mix turns into a boring monoculture of poppies! So at buy-trees-online, we grow those harder species: the plants which only germinate with the care of a nursery. Each type of wildflower has evolved to grow under particular conditions, are here is my handy little guide on what to plant where:

Sunny, Permanent Meadows

These plants like full sun or partial shade, so will be perfect for most garden areas. Most of these wildflowers are loved by bees and produce plenty of nectar.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Flowers June to September and likes well-drained soils.Lesser Knapweed (Centaurea nigra). Flowers July to September and loves the sun.Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense). Flowers June to September. Perfect for a sunny, herbaceous border.Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis). Flowers July to September.Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). Flowers May to September. Prefers well-drained soils.Musk Mallow (Malva moschata). Flowers July to September. Prefers well-drained soils.Cowslip (Primula veris). Flowers April to May, before the grass has grown too tall.Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris). Flowers June to October. Great for groundcover.White Campion (Silene alba). Flowers May to August.Red Campion (Silene dioica). Flowers April to July. Likes a bit of shade.

Woodland Shade

These wildflowers have evolved to grow under the dappled shade of woodland cover, so also work well in shady areas of your garden.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Flowers June to August. Also grows well in sun.Primrose (Primula vulgaris). Flowers March to May, before the trees' leaves are out while sunlight still reaches the forest floor.

Water Margins

These wildflowers love wet areas and are perfect for brightening up pond margins.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Flowers June to September.Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudocorus). Flowers May to July. Will grow in upto 15cm of water.Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuccli). Flowers June to August.